Ranunculus plant named ‘ABOGMA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar named ‘ABOGMA’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive color combination in the corolla of green and lavender. The flower has a rounded shape when fully open, and the petals are deeply ruffled. This variety has an exceptionally long vase life as a cut flower. The new variety is a Ranunculus, normally produced as a cut flower and also potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABOGMA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘PPBsfRS159.05’. The pollen parent is the unpatented, proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘68CMT03’. The new variety was discovered in 2010 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2007 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed by vegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selected plant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture. First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare, Italy in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘ABOGMA’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘ABOGMA’ as a new and distinct Ranunculus cultivar:

-   1. Particular combination of color in the corolla, including     lavender and green. -   2. Rounded shape of the flower when it is fully open. -   3. Deeply ruffled petals. -   4. Exceptionally long vase life. -   5. High productivity.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ differ in the following;

-   1. Flower color. Flowers of the new variety are a moderate     purple-pink with a strong yellow-green center. The seed parent is     white to pale pink with a strong yellow-green center. -   2. Androecium has been completely transformed to petals in the seed     parent, whereas in the new variety it is rare, some stamens and     anthers are found.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ are similar to plants of the pollen parent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ differ in the following;

-   1. Flower shape. Flowers of the new variety are taller, flowers of     the pollen parent are more flattened, somewhat hemispherical in     shape. -   2. Different combination of colors in the corolla. The parent     variety is lighter pink and lacks the yellow-green coloration found     in the new variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Ranunculus ‘Aazur White Striped’. The two Ranunculus varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘ABOGMA’ differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety produces flowers with more lavender and green in     the corolla. -   2. Flower shape of the new variety is more fully round. -   3. Petals of the new variety are stronger than those of this     comparator. -   4. Floral vase life of the new variety is longer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color flowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old, grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘ABOGMA’ plants grown in a greenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has been cultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and described in the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions of season and culture, when considering the present description. By reason of different climate or culture conditions, differences may arise between certain characteristics of the plant and the corresponding characteristics of the description. It should be considered as normal and do not modify the essence of the present invention because it will possible to identify the plant by means of the totality of the characteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been planted on raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growing temperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C. to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABOGMA’. -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.         -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and             are fasciculate type. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, erect             vegetation.         -   Height to top flower.—55 to 65 cm.         -   Plant spread.—35 to 40 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Medium.         -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a             basal rosette with one lateral branches that brings a             flower.         -   Length of lateral branches.—50 to 60 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.7 to 0.8 cm.         -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.         -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together,             forming a basal rosette.         -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.         -   Color of lateral branches.—Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Aspect/angle of branches.—20° to 25°.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked             heterophyllia, in relation to the degree of their             development and their position on the plant (base of the             plant; floral stem).         -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young             leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 25             to 30 cm. Average Width: 15 to 23 cm. Overall Shape of             blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).             Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:             Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are             generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further             divided in 3 or more lobes. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded.             Attachment: Base of the plant. Margin: Dentate. Texture of             top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface:             Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface: Glossy.             Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf internode length:             The internodes are extremely close together, forming a basal             rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A).             Young foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS 147B). Mature             foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A). Mature foliage under             side: Yellow Green (RHS 147B). Venation: Type: Dichotomous;             plunging in to the limb at the upper surface; raised on the             limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow             Green (RHS 144A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green             (RHS 144A). Petiole: Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length:             15 to 18 cm. Diameter: 0.4 to 0.6 cm. Pubescence: Slightly             tomentose. Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems             (sl).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 18 to 20 cm.             Average Width: 10 to 15 cm. Overall Shape of blade:             Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity             of dissection: Generally, divided in 3 parts, each one of             which is further divided in many deeply incised lobes. Apex:             Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment. Petiolate. Margin: Dentate.             Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of             bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top             surface: Matte. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf             internode length: 7 to 10 cm. Color: foliage upper side:             Green (RHS 137C). foliage under side: Green (RHS 138B).             Venation: Type: Longitudinal, deeply plunging in to the limb             at the upper surface and very raised on the limb at the             lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS             144A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).             Petiole: Petiole: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 4 to             10 cm. Diameter: 0.7 to 1.3 cm. Pubescence: Slightly             tomentose. Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). -   Flower:     -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.         -   Vase life (cut flower).—15 to 20 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.         -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 1.0             to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.3 to 2.0 cm. Color: Green (RHS 137B).             Slightly open bud (OB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length:             1.8 to 2.2 cm. Diameter: 2.3 to 2.4 cm. Color: Yellow Green             (RHS 144A); Yellow Green (RHS N144B) near the margin.         -   Flower size (of _(1.2)).—Diameter: 9 to 13 cm. Height: 3 to             6 cm.         -   Corolla (of _(1.2)).—Round, regular, in the form of a flat             section with slightly festooned edges.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle             in very tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite             variable, according to the position in the corolla,             decreasing from the exterior toward the center. The average             size of fully developed petal is as follows: Lobe Length:             3.8 to 4.8 cm. Lobe Width: 3.0 to 3.5 cm. Quantity: Double             flower, petals are very numerous (>100). Texture: Silky,             thin, resistant. Lobe Apex: Rounded, Slightly acute. Lobe             shape: Obovate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: concave, reflexed             when flower is fully opened.         -   Color when opening (cf).—Upper surface: Red Purple (RHS 65D)             at the margin; Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Lower surface: Red             Purple (RHS 65D) at the margin; Yellow Green (RHS 144A).         -   Color fully opened (of ₁).—Upper surface (PU₁): Red Purple             (RHS 65A) at the margin; Red Purple (RHS 65B); Yellow Green             (RHS 144A) from the center towards the base. Lower surface             (PL₁): Red Purple (RHS 65A) at the margin; Red Purple (RHS             65B); Yellow Green (RHS 144A) from the center towards the             base.         -   Other cultural improvements or features.—In this variety,             the colors of the corolla could present a lack of Red-Purple             tones and an increase of Green tones. This is already             noticeable in the flowers that are opening and is present in             those that are wide open (OF_(2;) PU_(2.) PL₂). This             variation of color, partially typical of this variety, is             accentuated in particular growing conditions, in relation to             light exposure, to the temperature and to the different             composition of fertilizers used by the various farms.         -   Calyx to sepals (s).—Quantity per flower: 9 to 12. Shape:             Concave, moderately incurved. Length: 1.9 to 2.6 cm. Width:             0.5 to 1.0 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Flat to Slightly rounded.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Lower surface is tomentose; Upper             surface is glabrous. Color Upper Surface: Yellow Green (RHS             145B). Color Lower Surface: Green (RHS 137C); Red Purple             (RHS 59A) along venation.         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 50 to 60 cm. Diameter: 0.9 to 1.4 cm.             Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Orientation: Upright,             straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Peduncle.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamens: Almost completely transformed as             petals.         -   Gynoecium.—The pistils are numerous, short, locked together             at the center of the corolla in a Yellow Green (RHS 144B)             and Purple (RHS N77A), dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus             has been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance             not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled             greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates             temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plant named ‘ABOGMA’ as herein illustrated and described. 